Samuel Isaac Weissman
Encyclopedia
Dr Samuel Isaac Weissman (June 25, 1912 – June 12, 2007) was an American chemist and professor best known for his work on the application of electron spin resonance (ESR) to chemistry.
Weissman was born in South Bend, Indiana
in 1912. He completed a chemistry degree at the University of Chicago
in 1933 and his doctorate from the same university in 1938.
Weissman was working on a project on fluorescent energy transfer, which later led to some rare-earth laser
s, at the University of California at Berkeley when he was asked to join the Manhattan Project
developing atomic weapons in 1943. He was among a group who asked unsuccessfully that the bomb not be dropped on civilian targets.
After his Los Alamos stint, Weissman went to the Washington University in St. Louis
in 1946 becoming a full professor in 1955. At Washington University, Weissman worked with others developing the use of electron spin resonance. He was one of the first, probably in parallel with Clyde Hutchison, to measure the hyperfine splitting of the ESR line caused by the interaction with nuclear spins. This hyperfine splitting is the main source of the sensitivity of ESR to the chemical environment of the electron, and hence it underlies the broad applications of ESR in chemistry. Much of his work concerned the way this interaction term behaves as molecules tumble around in solution or undergo chemical reactions. He also investigated the special non-equilibrium ESR effects which are found as reactions take place.
Weissman was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
.
Weissman retired from Washington University in 1980 and died in June 2007.
He was married to a distinguished psychologist, Jane Loevinger
.
Weissman was born in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
in 1912. He completed a chemistry degree at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1933 and his doctorate from the same university in 1938.
Weissman was working on a project on fluorescent energy transfer, which later led to some rare-earth laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s, at the University of California at Berkeley when he was asked to join the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
developing atomic weapons in 1943. He was among a group who asked unsuccessfully that the bomb not be dropped on civilian targets.
After his Los Alamos stint, Weissman went to the Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in 1946 becoming a full professor in 1955. At Washington University, Weissman worked with others developing the use of electron spin resonance. He was one of the first, probably in parallel with Clyde Hutchison, to measure the hyperfine splitting of the ESR line caused by the interaction with nuclear spins. This hyperfine splitting is the main source of the sensitivity of ESR to the chemical environment of the electron, and hence it underlies the broad applications of ESR in chemistry. Much of his work concerned the way this interaction term behaves as molecules tumble around in solution or undergo chemical reactions. He also investigated the special non-equilibrium ESR effects which are found as reactions take place.
Weissman was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Weissman retired from Washington University in 1980 and died in June 2007.
He was married to a distinguished psychologist, Jane Loevinger
Jane Loevinger
Jane Loevinger Weissman was a developmental psychologist who developed a theory of personality which emphasized the gradual internalization of social rules and the maturing conscience for the origin of personal decisions...
.